Decorating Ideas for a Bungalow

Photos of James and Jo Ford's remodeled Arkansas bungalow.

See how designer Brad Ford remodeled his parents' first home in Arkansas into a cozy place for family to stay.

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Lucas Allen

The Remodeled Bungalow

Jo and James Ford join their son Brad for a chat in front of the family's remodeled guesthouse.

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Lucas Allen

Before: Living Room

Before, a blah palette, overly coordinated pieces, and a closed-off furniture arrangement made the space uninviting.

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Lucas Allen

Inviting Living Room

Brad moved the sofa to the windows so that it beckons people into the living area, instead of forming a barricade with its back side. To undo the room's "matchy-matchy" feel, Brad swapped one of the wing chairs for a Windsor seat, $68 at a local antiques mall. A variety of thrift-store painted tables replaced all the light wood. Rather than reupholster, the designer transformed his parents' pieces with accents, including a throw Jo already owned and a butterfly pillow made from Design Legacy fabric.

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Lucas Allen

Before: Dining Room

Dark furniture and an abundance of wall art gave the appearance of too much clutter in the small nook.

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Lucas Allen

Small Dining Nook

Brad swapped out the square table for a $250 round one from antiques shop Clement (501-539-1473). Light-wood curved-back chairs from Pier 1 Imports also help soften the space. Picked up for $50 at a rummage sale, one large cabinet — instead of lots of little wall hangings — delivers a cleaner look. A $134 tray table from a local antiques mall provides serving space.

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Before: Guest Bedroom

This space's striking architecture went unnoticed, due to the dull wall color and outmoded linens.

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Lucas Allen

Guest Bedroom

"Bedding can create a dramatic change without being super expensive," Brad says of the room's thrifty new linens. The coverlets and sheets came from Target, while the designer picked up the showpieces — vibrantly hued shams — from Garnet Hill. A white nail-edge trunk — scored for $40 at a local antiques shop — doesn't interrupt the clean lines of the window frame.

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Lucas Allen

Before: Bathroom

With standard fixtures and a basic paint job, this space cried out for some character.

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Lucas Allen

Pretty Bathroom

The wallcovering is just pages from The Book of Botanical Prints: The Complete Plates ($22; Taschen), by Basilius Besler, applied with wallpaper glue. Since a bureau under the sink offers storage, Brad ditched the bulky medicine cabinet for a pretty mirror. Unsightly sliding doors hide behind a shower curtain.

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